Tony Bellew tells talkSPORT he would happily take on Tyson Fury in heavyweight clash

Tony Bellew admitted he would happily take on Tyson Fury in a heavyweight clash if it was arranged.

Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 and has twice withdrawn from rematches.

The 28-year-old had his boxing license revoked in October as he dealt with mental health problems, but has hinted at a return to the ring in May.

Speaking on Drivetime, Bellew did little to dampen speculation that he could face Fury after sharing a picture of himself and Fury on social media.

“I didn’t say anything. I just put a picture up – no one is being bright – this clown last week labelled me as a politician. I was honoured,” Bellew said.

“It was exactly what I put with the emoji flicking his chin – thinking – it’s just a thought, a thought for now.

“You’ve asked me would I fight Tyson? Why wouldn’t I?”

Following his victory over David Haye, Bellew has been linked with fights against the three other heavyweight champions of the world in Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.

But Bellew insists he feels no obligation to carry on in the heavyweight division to prove his credentials at the highest level of the sport.

“I don’t feel a duty to do anything besides getting the kids from school. I don’t have [any] obligations to this sport – I don’t owe anyone anything – I don’t owe anyone nothing.

“The only people I owe something to [are] those kids because I put them on this planet - they didn’t choose to be here – I put them here. Believe it or not, they’re the only thing I’m obligated to.

“There’s a lot of things being said about me and let’s just remember on Friday night just gone, David Haye was the most avoided heavyweight in the world, he was the bogey man of the heavyweights – no one dared mention his name.

“Only two people wanted to fight David Haye and I was one of them, Shannon Briggs is the other one. We’ve got something in common the pair of us – we’ve both got screws loose.

“No champions even whispered David’s name. Yet I go in and do him, and now every single champion wants to know who Tony Bellew is. Because you know why? Because he’s just a fat cruiserweight champion.

“But you know what? Underestimate me again at your peril. I’m not sure what the next move is. But would I like to be heavyweight champion of the world? Yeah right I would.

“Imagine that: the fat guy winning the heavyweight championship as well as the cruiserweight. Is that realistic? Is it too dangerous? I don’t know – time will tell.”